The Effect of Varied Light on The Activity and Function of Cassiopeia xamachana

Pilar McQuirterSimedar Jackson

Purpose

• The purpose of this experiment is to explore the short and long term effects of pollution on an ecosystem.

Experimental Hypothesis

• If the Cassiopeia xamachana are exposed to decreased amounts of light, then their activity would decrease because they derive nutrition from photosynthetic algae on their tentacles.

Null Hypothesis

• If the Cassiopeia xamachana are exposed to decreased amounts of light, then their will be no effect on their activity.

Design of Experiment

• Dependent Variable: Activity of Cassiopeia xamachana

• Independent Variable: Light intensity • Control Group: Specimen 1 & 2, Exposed to 40

watt bulb• Constants: Food, exposure time, and

temperature

Materials1. 5.5 gallon tanks (3)2. Cassiopea xamachana (5)3. 10 gallon tank (1)4. Tetra Air Pump (3)5. Accuair Valve (1)6. Filter (4)7. Tetra HT10 50W Submersible

Heater (1)8. Mini Heater 10W (3)9. Nature’s Ocean Bacteria

Inoculated Sand (1 bag)10. Charcoal11. Mortar and Pestle12. Stirring rods

13. Optix Acrylic Sheet14. Fish net15. Timer16. Ruler 17. Shopping Bag18. Scale19. 40 watt EcoSmart light bulb (3)20. 60 watt EcoSmart light bulb (1)21. Syphon22. Plastic tubing23. Salt water24. 5 gallon water jugs

ProcedureSpecimen 1 & 2

1. 40 watt Light Bulb 2. Fed ½ frozen Brine Shrimp

Cube, once a week 3. Data Collected once a

week

ProcedureSpecimen 3 Treatment1. Using Mortar and Pestle,

Kingsford Charcoal was ground

2. Scale was zeroed with plastic weighing tray

3. Ground Charcoal was placed in weighing tray, then weighed

4. 2.0 g of Charcoal was dusted atop the water of the tank

5. 40 watt Light Bulb 6. Fed ½ frozen Brine Shrimp

Cube, once a week 7. Data Collected once a

week

ProcedureSpecimen 41. Various holes cut in

shopping bag fora) Lightb) Viewing

2. Viewing holes taped over when not in use, so not to add any extra light

3. 40 watt Light Bulb4. Fed ½ frozen Brine Shrimp

Cube, once a week 5. Data Collected once a

week

Specimen 51. 60 watt Light bulb shined

directly on specimen2. Fed ½ frozen Brine Shrimp

Cube, once a week 3. Data Collected once a

week

Feeding1. Frozen Brine Shrimp cubes

were cut in half for specimens 3-5

2. Whole cube was given to specimens 1 & 2

Date: 12/16/12 Specimine 1 Specimen 2 Specimen 3 Specimen 4 Specimen 5 Date:

3/8/12 Specimen 1 Specimen 2 Specimen 3 Specimen 4 Specimen 5

Trial 1 23 19 21 20 56 Trial 1 24 15 15 14 68

Trial 2 27 20 20 21 52 Trial 2 25 18 17 12 78

Trial 3 26 19 24 18 51 Trial 3 25 17 16 11 78

Average 25.33 19.33 21.67 19.67 53.00 Average 24.67 16.67 16.00 12.33 74.67

Length 3 cm 3.5 cm 5.2 cm 6.5 cm 4.5 cm Length 4.6 cm 4.2 cm 5.2 cm 6.1 cm 5.7 cm

Date: 2/27/12 Specimine 1 Specimen 2 Specimen 3 Specimen 4 Specimen 5 Date:

3/15/12 Specimen 1 Specimen 2 Specimen 3 Specimen 4 Specimen 5

Trial 1 25 13 14 32 30 Trial 1 21 18 16 10 66

Trial 2 25 13 19 26 29 Trial 2 25 20 16 10 53

Trial 3 25 13 16 28 30 Trial 3 25 19 17 12 58

Average 25.00 13.00 16.33 28.67 29.67 Average 23.67 19.00 16.33 10.67 59.00

Length 3.5 cm 4.5 cm 5.5 cm 6.8 cm 5 cm Length 4.6 cm 4.5 cm 5.6 cm 6 cm 5.8 cm

Date: 3/01/12 Specimen 1 Specimen 2 Specimen 3 Specimen 4 Specimen 5 Date:

3/22/12 Specimen 1 Specimen 2 Specimen 3 Specimen 4 Specimen 5

Trial 1 32 15 11 10 71 Trial 1 24 14 16 36 35

Trial 2 27 19 11 8 67 Trial 2 23 18 12 19 33

Trial 3 29 17 11 8 72 Trial 3 23 16 15 14 41

Average 29.33 17.00 11.00 8.67 70.00 Average 23.33 16.00 14.33 23.00 36.33

Length 3.2 cm 4.3 cm 5 cm 7 cm 5 cm Length 4.3 cm 4.4 cm 6.5 cm 6.6 cm 6.7 cm

Pulses per Minute

12/16/2011 2/27/2012 3/1/2012 3/8/2012 3/15/2012 3/22/20120

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Average Pulse per Minute

Specimen 1 Specimen 2 Specimen 3 Specimen 4 Specimen 5

Dates

Num

ber o

f Pul

ses

ControlControl Varied Light Reduced Light Intense Light

Chi SquaredSpecimen 3

Date Expected e Observed (o) (o-e) (o-e)2 〖 (o-e)〗 ^2/e2/27/2012 19 16.33 2.67 7.1289 0.3752052633/1/2012 23.165 11 12.165 147.9872 6.3883973673/8/2012 20.72 16 4.72 22.2784 1.075212355

3/15/2012 21.335 16.33 5.005 25.05003 1.174128193 9.012943178

Specimen 4Date Expected e Observed (o) (o-e) (o-e)2 〖 (o-e)〗 ^2/e

2/27/2012 19 28.67 -9.67 93.5089 4.9215210533/1/2012 23.165 8.67 14.495 210.105 9.0699341683/8/2012 20.72 12.33 8.39 70.3921 3.397302124

3/15/2012 21.335 10.67 10.665 113.7422 5.331250293 22.72000764

Specimen 5Date Expected e Observed (o) (o-e) (o-e)2 〖 (o-e)〗 ^2/e

2/27/2012 19 29.67 -10.67 113.8489 5.992047373/1/2012 23.165 70 -46.835 2193.517 94.691009073/8/2012 20.72 74.67 -53.95 2910.603 140.47309363

3/15/2012 21.335 59 -37.665 1418.652 66.49412819 307.65027826

Degrees of Freedom= 3

The Chi Squared value is higher than the critical value, therefore the data is significant

Error

• Lights turned off the week of 3/26• Inaccurate feeding methods• Inability to obtain freshly hatched Artemia for

feeding• Temperature fluctuations in tanks

Data Analysis

• Zooxanthellae are photosynthetic organisms that utilize the enzyme carbonic anhydrase(CA) to convert HCO3- to usable CO2.

• CA concentrations are highest in host tissues, creating the symbiotic relationship between Zooxanthellae and Cassiopea xamachana.

Data Analysis

• CA concentrations are effected by light intensity, water flow, and Zooxanthellae densities.

• When these factors are altered, Cassiopea xamachana expel 67% to 70% of their Zooxanthellae.

Data Analysis

• Bleaching occurs when C. xamachana expel Zooxanthellae, indicating a disruption in light intensity, heat, water quality, or water flow. As seen in specimen five (intense light) and specimen four ( reduced light).

Data Analysis

• The results of the experiment have allowed the rejection of the null hypothesis and provides support for the experimental hypothesis.

Data Analysis

• Experimental hypothesis: If the Cassiopeia xamachana are exposed to decreased amounts of light, then their activity would decrease because they derive nutrition from photosynthetic algae on their tentacles.

• Null hypothesis: If the Cassiopeia xamachana are exposed to decreased amounts of light, then their will be no effect on their activity.

Specimen 5(Intense Light)

March 1st2012 March 15th 2012

Specimen 4(Reduced Light)

March 1st,2012 March 15th 2012

Conclusions and Applications

Conclusion & Applications

• The expulsion of Zooxanthellae reduces their ability to effectively perform photosynthesis.

• Zooxanthellae also have a symbiotic relationship with coral, increasing calcification and survival.

• Unhealthy coral- decrease in marine life& biodiversity- fisherman catch is depleted/ attraction of coral reefs is destroyed

Works Cited• 302 Found. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.nzdl.org/gsdlmod?e=d-00000-00---off-0envl--00-0----0-10-0---0---0direct-

10---4-------0-1l--11-en-50---20-help---00-0-1-00-0-0-11-1-0utfZz-8-00• Berkelmans, R., & Van Oppen, M. J. (2006). The Role of Zooxanthellae in the Thermal Tolerance of Corals: A 'Nugget of

Hope' for Coral Reefs in an Era of Climate Change. Proceedings: Biological Sciences, 273, 2305-2302. Retrieved April 13, 2012, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/view/25223603

• Chi-Squared Table. (n.d.). Retrieved April 11, 2012, from http://www.unc.edu/~farkouh/usefull/chi.html• Estes, A. M., Kempf, S. C., & Henry, R. P. (2003). Localization and quantification of carbonic anhydrase activity in the

symbiotic scyphozoan cassiopea xamachana. The Biological Bulletin, 204, 278-289. Retrieved April 11, 2012, from http:/http://www.jstor.org/stable/3884234

• Gattuso, J., Allemand, D., & Frankignoulle, M. (1999). Photosynthesis and calcification at cellular, organismal and community levels of coral reefs: A review on interactions and control by carbonate chemistry. In American zoologist (Vol. 3, pp. 160-183). Oxford University Press. Retrieved April 11, 2012, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/3884234

• Marine Food Webs. (n.d.). Welcome to OceanWorld. Retrieved April 11, 2012, from http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/resources/oceanography-book/marinefoodwebs.htm

• Mayer, A. G. (1917). On the Non-Existence of Nervous Shell-Shock in Fishes and Marine Invertebrates. National Academy of Sciences, 3(10), 597-598. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/83620?seq=1&Search=yes&searchText=cassiopea&list=hide&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3Dcassiopea%2Bxamachana%26acc%3Don%26wc%3Don&prevSearch=&item=15&ttl=97&returnArticleService=showFullText&resultsServiceName=null

• Stobart, B., Teleki, K., Buckley, R., Downing, N., & Callow, M. (2005, January 15). Coral Recovery at Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles: Five Years after the 1998 Bleaching Event. JSTOR. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/30039796?searchUrl=/action/doBasicSearch?Query=coral+bleaching&acc=on&wc=on

Thank You!!

• Mrs. Hennings and Mr. Costopoulos• Wendy Williams, Gerald McQuirter, Dr.

Tacoma McKnight• Oak Park Natural Pet and Fish• Renata Voci